|
8 bit grayscale |
Images that contain 256
(28=256) possible shades of gray needed to represent most black and
white photos accurately. 256 levels of gray is actually more shades of
gray than the human eye can see. |
|
24 bit color |
24-bit color images are
composed of three 8-bit color channels. When combined, the red, green
and blue channels provide up to 16.7 million possible combinations
(hence, colors). 24-bit color is also known as True Color and
photo-realistic color. |
|
36 bit color |
36-bit color images are
composed of three 12-bit color channels. When combined, the red, green
and blue channels provide up to 68.7 billion possible combinations that
translate into that many "colors." (This compares to 16.7
million colors for 24-bit scanners.) The extra amount of information
that can be processed by 36-bit scanners translates to more vivid color
reproduction, as the scanner is able to accommodate more subtle
gradations of color approaching lifelike accuracy. |
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Aberration |
The failure of an optical
lens to produce an exact point-to-point correspondence between the
object and its resulting image. Various types are chromatic, spherical,
coma, astigmatism and distortion. |
|
Absorption |
The loss of light of
certain wavelengths as it passes through a material and is converted to
heat or other forms of energy. |
|
Accuracy |
The extent to which a
machine vision system can correctly measure or obtain a true value of a
feature. The closeness of the average value of the measurements to the
actual dimension. |
|
Active Illumination |
Lighting a scene with a
light source coordinated with the acquisition of an image. Strobed flash
tubes, pulsed lasers and scanned LIDAR beams are examples. |
|
AGC |
Automatic Gain Control. A
circuit for automatically controlling amplifier gain in order to
maintain a constant output voltage with a varying input voltage within a
predetermined range of input-to-output variation. |
| Airy
Discs |
Consist
of small, concentric light and dark circles. The smaller the "Airy
discs" projected by an objective in forming the image, the more
detail of the specimen is discernible. Objectives of better correction
produce smaller "Airy Discs" than do objectives of lesser
correction. Objectives of higher numerical aperture (more on this to be
explained) are capable of producing smaller "Airy Discs." For
these reasons, objectives of high numerical aperture (N.A.) and better
correction can distinguish finer detail in the specimen. The ability to
distinguish (separate) clearly minute details lying close together in
the specimen is known as resolving power. |
|
Algorithm |
A set of well-defined
rules or procedures for solving a problem or providing an output from a
specific set of inputs. |
|
Alpha Risk (ý-risk) |
The risk of rejecting
good product. |
|
Ambient light |
Light which is present in
the environment of the imaging front end of a vision system and
generated from outside sources. This light, unless used for actual scene
illumination, will be treated as background noise by the vision system. |
|
Analog |
A smooth, continuous
voltage or current signal or function whose magnitude (value) is the
information. From the word "analogous," meaning "similar
to." |
|
Analog-to-Digital
Converter (A/D) |
A device which converts
an analog voltage or current signal to a discrete series of digitally
encoded numbers (signal) for computer processing. Architecture for a
vision system, the hardware organization designed for high speed image
analysis. |
|
Aperture |
In television optics, it
is the effective diameter of the lens that controls the amount of light
reaching the photoconductive or photoemitting image pickup sensor. |
|
Aperture Correction |
Compensation for the loss
in sharpness of detail because of the finite dimensions of the image
elements or the dot-pitch of the monitor. |
|
Area |
Portion or area of the
image to be analyzed. Area analysis measures the number of pixels which
fall in a specified range of gray levels for the feature of interest. |
|
Area Array Camera |
A solid state imaging
device with both rows and columns of pixels, forming an array which
produces a 2D image. |
|
Array Processor |
A specially designed
vision engine peripheral which attaches to the host to speed up
arithmetical calculations by using parallel processing techniques. The
host manages image data access and analysis results. |
|
Artifact |
An artificially created
structure (by accident or on purpose), form or shape, usually part of
the background, used to assist in measurement or object location. |
|
Artificial Intelligence |
The capability of a
computer to perform functions normally attributed to human intelligence,
such as learning, adapting, recognizing, classifying, reasoning,
self-correction and improvement. Rarely found connected to vision
systems. |
|
ASIC |
An acronym for
Application Specific Integrated Circuit. All vision system elements
including firmware can be integrated onto one ASIC. |
|
Aspect ratio |
The ratio of the width to
the height of a frame of a video image. The U.S. television standard is
4:3 or 1.333 |
|
ASPI |
Stands for Advanced SCSI
Programming Interface. ASPI is a protocol or language developed by the
Adaptec Corporation to allow communication between SCSI peripherals
(like a scanner) and an interface card. |
|
Astigmatism |
A defect in a lens which
causes blur or imperfect image results, since the rays from a given
point fail to meet at the focal point. |
|
Asynchronous |
A camera characteristic
which allows the return to top-of-frame to occur on demand, rather than
synchronously following the 60 hz power line scanning frequency. |
|
Attenuation |
In general terms, a
reduction in signal strength. |
|
Attribute List |
List of distinguishing
features which are selected for IP calculation. |
|
Auto Balance |
A system for detecting
errors in color balance in white and black areas of the picture and
automatically adjusting the white and black levels of both the red and
blue signals as needed for correction. |
|
Autofocus |
The ability of an imaging
system to control the focus of the lens to obtain the sharpest image on
the detector. Edge crispness is a typical control variable. |
|
Automatic Gain Control |
A process by which gain
is automatically adjusted as a function of input or other specified
parameter. |
|
Automatic Iris Lens |
A lens that automatically
adjusts the amount of light reaching the imager. |
|
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Back Porch |
That portion of the
composite picture signal which lies between the trailing edge of the
horizontal sync pulse and the trailing edge of the corresponding
blanking pulse. |
|
Background |
The part of a scene
behind the object to be imaged. |
|
Backlighting |
Placement of a light
source behind an object so that a silhouette of that object is formed.
It is used where outline information of the object and its features is
important rather than surface features. |
|
Backpropagation |
A training technique
which adjusts the weights of the hidden and input layers of a neural net
to force the correct decision for a given feature vector data input set. |
|
Baffle |
A type of shield that
prohibits light from entering an optical system. |
|
Bandpass Filter |
An absorbing filter which
allows a known range of wavelengths to pass, blocking those of lower or
higher frequency. |
|
Bandwidth |
The number of cycles per
second (Hertz) expressing the difference between the lower and upper
limiting frequencies of a frequency band; also, the width of a band of
frequencies. |
|
Bar Code |
An identification system
that employs a series of machine-readable lines of varying widths of
black and white. Usually read with a laser scanner. |
|
Bar Code (2D) |
An arrangement of
rectangles and spaces that contains far more information than a
traditional bar code. |
|
Barrel Distortion |
An optical imperfection
which causes an image to bulge convexly on all sides similar to a
barrel. |
|
Beamsplitter |
An optical device which
divides one beam into two or more separate beams. A simple coated piece
of glass in the optical path might reflect 60% of the light down onto
the object, while allowing the other 40% to pass. |
|
Beta Risk |
The risk of accepting bad
or defective product. |
|
Binary |
An image with pixel
values either one or zero. |
|
Binary image |
A black and white image
represented as a single bit containing either zeros and ones, in which
objects appear as silhouettes. The result of backlighting or
thresholding. |
|
Bit |
An acronym for a Binary
digit. It is the smallest unit of information which can be represented.
A bit may be in one of two states, on or off, represented by a zero or a
one. |
|
Bit Map |
A representation of
graphics or characters by individual pixels arranged in rows and
columns. Black and white require one bit, while fancy high definition
color up to 32. |
|
Blanking |
The time during a raster
scan retrace when the video signal is suppressed. |
|
Blob |
A single, connected
region in a binary or grayscale image. |
|
Blob Analysis |
Identification of
segmented objects in an image based on their geometric features (ie
area, length, number of holes). (SRI) |
|
Blooming |
The defocusing of regions
of the picture where the brightness is at an excessive level, due to
enlargement of spot size and halation of the fluorescent screen of the
cathode-ray picture tube. In a camera, sensor element saturation and
excess which causes widening of the spatial representation of a spot
light source. |
|
Borescope |
A device for internal
inspection of difficult access locations such as pipes, engines, rifle
barrels and pipes. Its long narrow tube contains a telescope system with
a number of relay lenses. Light is provided via the optical path or
fiber bundles. A 45 degree mirror at the end allows inspection of tube
walls. |
|
Boundary |
The line formed by the
joining of two image regions, each having a different light intensity.
The edge of a region or object. |
|
Bounding Box |
The four coordinates
which define a box around the object parallel to the major and minor
axis. (SRI feature) |
|
Brewster's Angle |
The angle at which
incident light, by reflecting at a boundary between two mediums of
different refractive indices (ie air/glass or air/water), becomes plane
polarized. For air/glass it is about 67.4 degrees. |
|
Brightness |
The total amount of light
or incident illumination on a scene or object per unit area. Also called
intensity. |
|
Brightness |
The attribute of visual
perception in accordance with which an area appear to emit more of less
light. (Luminance is the recommended name for the photo-electric
quantity which has also been called brightness.) |
|
Bus |
A local area network
inside a computer which electrically connects all cards. They all hear
the same information. |
|
Byte |
Eight bits of digital
information. A byte has values from 0 to 255, and is the unit most
common to represent the gray scale value of one pixel. |
|
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Calibration |
The act of relating X and
Y pixel spacing to a known or predetermined pixels per unit length (ie
inch, mm) factor. Often involves adjusting the imager position in setup. |
|
CCD |
Charge Coupled Device. A
photo-sensitive image sensor implemented with large scale integration
technology. |
|
CCD |
Frame Transfer CCD. The
entire image is transferred from the sensing area to a storage area on
chip. Data (charge) is read out from the storage area in a full frame
mode. This workhorse of the industry is also capable of non-RS-170
operation. |
|
CCD |
Interline Transfer CCD.
Data (charge) is transferred simultaneously out by odd and even lines or
fields directly from the image sensors to their corresponding sensor
registers. The output from the camera is always one field (frame) behind
the image being captured. |
|
Centroid |
The center of mass of an
object having a constant density, or of an object having varying
density, weighted by the gray scale value. |
|
Character |
A single letter, digit or
punctuation symbol requiring one byte storage. |
|
Character Recognition
(OCR) |
Imaging and recognizing
individual characters in a scene. Also called Optical Character
Recognition. |
|
Character Verification (OCV) |
Imaging and verifying the
correctness, quality and legibility of known characters in an image.
Also Optical Character Verification. |
|
Child |
An object wholly
contained within another object called the parent (SRI). A washer,
including the hole, is the parent, and the hole is the child. |
|
Chroma |
The quality of a color
including both the hue and saturation. Not present in gray. |
|
Chromatic Aberration |
An optical defect of a
lens which causes different colors or wave lengths of light to be
focused at different distances from the lens. It is seen as color
fringes or halos along edges and around every point in the image. |
|
Chromaticity |
The color quality of
light which is defined by the wavelength (hue) and saturation.
Chromaticity defines all the qualities of color except its brightness. |
|
Chrominance |
A color term defining the
hue and saturation of a color. Does not refer to brightness. |
|
Chrominance Signal |
That portion of the NTSC
color television signal which contains the color information. |
|
CID Charge Injection
Device |
A photo-sensitive image
sensor implemented with large scale integration technology. Based on
charge injection technology, a CID can be randomly addressed,
non-destructively read, can be subscanned in a small region and is less
susceptible to charge overflow from bright pixels to neighbors. The
pixel structure is contiguous with maximum surface to capture incident
light which is useful for sub-pixel measurement. |
|
CIE |
An acronym for a
chromaticity coordinate system developed by the Commission
Internationale de l'Eclairage, the international commission on
illumination. In the CIE system, a plot of ratios (x, y and z) of the
three standard primary colors (tristimulus values) to their sum. The
most common diagram is the 2 dimensional CIE (x,y). |
|
Classification |
Assignment of image
objects to one of two or more possible groups. Decisions are made by
evaluating features either 1) structurally based on relationships or 2)
statistically. For example, 1) a penny is round, a certain diameter (+/-
a tolerance) and has a histogram of a mean value; or 2) statistically,
the object is measured a number of times, then the average and standard
deviation are recorded. After training the features are weighted based
on significance in object identification. For multiple features,
absolute values are used. |
|
Closing |
A dilation followed by an
erosion. A morphological operator useful to close holes and boundaries. |
|
C-mount |
A threaded means of
mounting a lens to a camera. |
|
Coaxial Cable |
A particular type of
cable capable of passing a wide range of frequencies with very low
signal loss. Such a cable in its simplest form, consists of a hollow
metallic shield with a single wire accurately placed along the center of
the shield and isolated from the shield. |
|
Coaxial Illumination |
Front lighting with the
illumination path running along the imaging optical axis and usually
introduced with a 45 degree angle beam splitter. |
|
Coherent Fiber Optics |
A bundle of optical
fibers with the input and output spatial x-y relationship maintained,
resulting in near spatially correct image transmission. |
|
Collimate |
To produce light with
parallel rays. |
|
Collimated Lighting |
Radiation from a given
point with every light ray considered parallel. In actuality, even light
from a very distant point source (ie a star) diverges somewhat. Note
that all collimators have some aberrations. |
|
Color |
A visual object attribute
which may be described by a "coordinate system" such as hue,
saturation and intensity (HSI), CIE or LAB. Wavelengths in the visible
part of the electromagnetic spectrum to which retinal rods respond. |
|
Color Burst |
That portion of the
composite color signal, comprising a few cycles of a sine wave of
chrominance subcarrier frequency, which is used to establish a reference
for demodulating the chrominance signal. Normally approximately 9 cycles
of 3.579545 MHz. |
|
Color calibration |
The process of ensuring
accurate reproduction of color for images. Full color calibration is
usually a two-step process: calibrating your input device, such as a
scanner or camera; and calibrating your output device, such as a printer
or monitor. By calibrating input and output devices correctly, color is
accurately captured by your scanner/camera and is reproduced faithfully
on your monitor or printer as well. |
|
Color Encoder |
A device which produces
an NTSC color signal from separate R, G, and B video inputs. |
|
Color Saturation |
The degree to which a
color is free of white light. |
|
Color Space |
A two or three
dimensional space used to represent an absolute color coordinate. RGB,
HSI, LAB and CIE are all representations of color spaces. |
|
Color Sync Signal |
A signal used to
establish and to maintain the same color relationships that are
transmitted. |
|
Color Temperature |
A colorimetric concept
related to the apparent visual color of a source, but not its actual
temperature. |
|
Colorimetry |
Techniques used to
measure color of an object or region and to define the results in a
comparison or coordinate system. |
|
Composite Video |
A television signal which
is produced by combining both a video or picture signal with horizontal
and vertical synch and blanking signals. |
|
Condenser Lens |
Used to collect and
redirect light for the purpose of illumination. Often used to collect
light from a small source and project even light onto an object. |
|
Connectivity Analysis |
An SRI routine used to
determine which pixels are interconnected and part of the same object or
region. The results are used for blob analysis. |
|
Contrast |
The difference of light
intensity between two adjacent regions in the image of an object. Often
expressed as the difference between the lightest and darkest portion of
an image. Contrast between a flaw or feature and its background is the
goal of illumination. |
|
Contrast Enhancement |
Stretching of the gray
level values between dark and light portions of an image to improve both
visibility and feature detection. |
|
Convergence |
The crossover of the
three electron beams of a three-gun tri-color picture tube. This
normally occurs at the plane of the aperture mask. |
|
Convolution |
Superimposing a m x n
operator (usually a 3x3 or 5x5 mask) over an area of the image,
multiplying the points together, summing the results to replace the
original pixel with the new value. This operation is often performed on
the entire image to enhance edges, features, remove noise and other
filtering operations. |
|
Correlation |
A mathematical measure of
the similarity between images or areas within an image. Pattern matching
or correlation of an X by Y array size template to the same size image,
produces a scaler number, the percentage of match. Typically, the
template is walked through a larger array to find the highest match. |
|
CPU |
An acronym for Central
Processing Unit. A VLSI chip such as 80486 or Pentium. |
|
Cross section |
A 3D profile of a slice
of an object. |
|
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Darkfield Illumination |
Lighting of objects,
surfaces or particles at very shallow or low angles, so that light does
not directly enter the optics. Objects are bright with a dark
background. This grazing illumination causes specular reflections from
abrupt surface irregularities. |
|
Data Reduction |
The process of lowering
the data content of an pixel or image such as thresholding or run length
encoding. |
|
dB |
Basically, a measure of
the power ratio of two signals. In system use, a measure of the voltage
ratio of two signals, provided they are measured across a common
impedance. |
|
Decision Tree |
A structural
classification technique based on relationships of feature measurements.
Useful for differentiating a number of objects. |
|
Dedicated System |
Refers to a system which
is configured for a specific application. Able to function when plugged
in with no further development. Also called turnkey. |
|
Depth of field |
The range of an imaging
system in which objects are in focus (the amount of focal tolerance in
the object plane (frontal conjugate)). |
|
Depth of focus |
The amount of focal
tolerance in the focal plane (rear conjugate). |
|
Depth Perception (3D) |
Measurement of the third
dimension of an object or scene. |
|
Dichroic Filter |
A filter used to transmit
light based on its wavelength, rather than on its plane of vibration.
Transmits one color, while reflecting a second when illuminated with
white light. Often used in heads-up displays. |
|
Diffraction Pattern
Sampling |
Inspection by comparing
portions of the interference pattern formed on a screen or special
sensor from light waves diffracted by object edges. |
|
Diffuse Reflection |
Light which bounces off
an object surface in many different directions. Light radiated from a
matte surface is highly diffused. |
|
Diffused lighting |
Scattered soft lighting
from a wide variety of angles used to eliminate shadows and specular
glints from profiled, highly reflective surfaces. |
|
Digital Camera |
The newest generation of
video cameras transform visual information into pixels, then translate
each pixel's level of light into a number in the camera. |
|
Digital Image |
A video image converted
into pixels. The numeric value of each pixel's value can be stored in a
computer memory for subsequent processing and analysis. |
|
Digital Signal Processor
(DSP) |
A VLSI chip designed for
ultra high speed arithmetic processing. Often imbedded in a vision
engine. TI's TMS320C40 is the industry standard. |
|
Digital to analog
converter |
A VLSI circuit used to
convert digital computer processed images to analog for display on a
monitor. DAC is the acronym. |
|
Digitization |
Sampling and conversion
of an incoming video or other analog signal into a digital value for
subsequent storage and processing. |
|
Dilation |
A morphological operation
which moves a probe or structuring element of a particular shape over
the image, pixel by pixel. When an object boundary is contacted by the
probe, a pixel is preserved in the output image. The effect is to
"grow" the objects. |
|
Dispersion |
Separation of a beam of
light into its wavelength components, each of which travel at slightly
different speeds. Also called chromatic dispersion. |
|
Distribution Amplifier |
A device that provides
several isolated outputs from one looping or bridging input, and has a
sufficiently high input impedance and input-to-output isolation to
prevent loading of the input source. |
|
Dpi |
Stands for dots per inch,
the measure of resolution. The greater the dpi number, the higher the
resolution. |
|
Dust |
An environmental
contaminant consisting of airborne particles to be dealt with in machine
vision. Never use factory air to keep optical surfaces clean, since oil
will deposit. |
|
Dynamic Range |
The measure of the range
light sensitivity a sensor is able to reproduce, from the darkest to the
brightest portion of a scene. Usually expressed in decibels. |
|
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Edge |
A change in pixel values
exceeding some threshold amount. Edges represent borders between regions
on an object or in a scene. |
|
Edge Detection |
The ability to determine
the true edge of an object. |
|
Edge Operator |
Templates for finding
edges in images. |
|
Electrical Noise |
Interference from various
electrical devices which is present in the air as electromagnetic
radiation or rides on the power lines and can introduce error into low
voltage computations such as A/D conversion. |
|
Electro |
The total range of
wavelengths, extending from the longest (audio) to the shortest (gamma
rays) which can be physically generated. This entire spectrum is
potentially useful for imaging, well beyond just the visible spectrum. |
|
Encoder (Shaft or
position) |
Provides rotation
information for control of image acquisition, especially for moving web
processes. Outputs either pulses for counting or BCD parallel with
absolute position information. |
|
Endoscope |
A medical instrument used
to view inside the human body. It may use borescope optics or coherent
fibers to relay the image to the eye or camera. Illumination is provided
by a non-coherent bundle of optical fibers. |
|
Erosion |
The converse of the
morphology dilation operator. A morphological operation which moves a
probe or structuring element of a particular shape over the image, pixel
by pixel. When the probe fits inside an object boundary, a pixel is
preserved in the output image. The effect is to "shrink or
erode" objects as they appear in the output image. Any shape
smaller than the probe (ie noise) disappears. |
|
Exposure |
The amount of light in an
image. The exposure of an image can be changed by increasing or reducing
available light. |
|
Extension Tube |
A cylindrical threaded
tube used to change the magnification, effective focal length and field
of view of a lens when inserted between the lens and imaging sensor. |
|
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F number or f stop |
The ratio of the focal
length to the lens aperture. The smaller the f -number, the larger the
lens diameter and brighter the image and narrower the depth-of-field |
|
Fast Fourier Transform |
Produces a new image
which represents the frequency domain content of the spatial or time
domain image information. Data is represented as a series of sinusoidal
waves. |
|
Feature Extraction |
Determining image
features by applying feature detectors to distinguish or segment them
from the background. |
|
Feature Vectors |
A set of features of an
object (such as area, number of holes, etc) that can be used for its
identification or inspection. |
|
Features |
Simple image data
attributes such as pixel amplitudes, edge point locations and textural
descriptors, center of mass, number of holes in an object with
distinctive characteristics defined by boundaries or regions. |
|
Fiber Optics |
Light source or optical
image delivery via a long, flexible fiber(s) of transparent material,
usually bundled together. Light is transmitted via internal reflection
inside each fiber. Coherent fiber optics are spatially organized so
images can be relayed. |
|
Fiberscope |
An optical instrument
similar to a borescope, but uses a flexible, coherent fiber or bundle
(usually silicon), an objective lens and an eyepiece or camera. |
|
Fiducial |
A line, mark or shape
used as a standard of reference for measurement or location. |
|
Field |
One of the two parts of a
television frame in an interlaced scanning system. The odd plus the even
field comprise one video frame. A field is scanned every 1/60th of a
second. |
|
Field of view |
The 2D area which can be
seen through the optical imaging system. (FOV) |
|
File format |
The way a graphic file is
saved. Several file formats are available for use, and each one has its
own advantages and disadvantages. The most popular file formats include
JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, PICT, EPS, and PCX. TIFF is the most widely used
file format. |
|
Filter |
A device or process that
selectively transmits frequencies. In optics, the material either
reflects or absorbs certain wavelengths of light, while passing others. |
|
Filtering |
The use of an optical
filter for picture or color enhancement in front of the camera lens or
light source. Also analog or digital image processing (IP) operations to
enhance or modify an image. May be linear & non linear. |
|
Filters |
Tools that allow you to
apply or create special effects to your images. Filters in your software
include Blur/Blur More, Sharpen/Sharpen More, Emboss, and Edge
Enhancement. |
|
Firmware |
Software hard coded in
non volitle memory (ROM), usually to increase speed. |
|
Fixture |
A device to hold and
locate a workpiece during processing or inspection operations. |
|
Fluorescence |
The emission of light or
other electromagnetic radiation at longer wavelengths by matter as a
result of absorption of a shorter wavelength. The emission lasts only as
long as the stimulating irradiation is present. |
|
Focal Length |
The distance from a lens'
principal point to the corresponding focal point on the object. |
|
Focal Plane |
Usually found at the
image sensor, it is a plane perpendicular to the lens axis at the point
of focus . |
|
Focus |
The point at which rays
of light converge for any given point on the object in the image. Also
called the focal point. |
|
Focus Following |
A ranging and tracking
technique that uses image processing to measure object range based on
best focus. |
|
Footlambert (FL) |
A unit of luminance equal
to 1/candela per square foot or to the uniform luminance at a perfectly
diffusing surface emitting or reflecting light at the rate of one lumen
per square foot. A lumen per square foot is a unit of incident light and
a footlambert is a unit of emitted or reflected light. For a perfectly
reflecting and perfectly diffusing surface, the number of lumens per
square foot is equal to the number of footlamberts. |
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Fourier Domain Inspection |
Evaluation of the fourier
transform (frequency information) of a 2D spatial image for features of
interest. |
|
Frame |
The total area scanned in
an image sensor while the video signal is not blanked. In interlaced
scanning, two fields comprise one frame. Frame rate is typically 30 Hz. |
|
Frame Buffer |
Image memory in a frame
grabber. |
|
Frame Grabber |
A device that interfaces
with a video camera and, on command, samples the video, converts the
video image into digital values and stores that array of numbers in the computer's memory. |
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Frame Transfer |
A CCD imager where an
entire matrix of pixels is read into storage before being output from
the camera. Differs from Interline Transfer where lines of pixels are
output |
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Front End System |
The object, illumination,
optics and imager blocks of a vision system. Includes all components
useful to acquire a good image for subsequent processing. |
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Front Lighting |
The use of illumination
on the camera side of an object so that surface features can be
observed. |
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Gaging |
In machine vision, non
contact dimensional examination of an object. |
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Gamma (,) |
The numeric value for the
degree of contrast in a television picture. The exponent in the power
law relating output to input signal magnitude. Non linear camera tube.
Or simply, the contrast affecting the mid level grays or midtones of an
image. Adjusting the gamma of an image allows you to change brightness
values of the middle range of gray tones without dramatically altering
the shadows and highlights. |
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Glints |
Shiny, specular
reflections from smooth objects or surfaces. |
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Global Method |
An image processing
operation uniformly applied to the whole image. |
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Gradient |
The rate of change of
pixel intensity (first derivative). |
|
Gradient Space |
A matrix containing
values for the rate of change of pixel values or gray level intensity of
the image. |
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Gradient Vector |
The orientation and
magnitude of the rate of change in intensity at a point or pixel
location in the image. |
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Grating |
An optical element with
an even arrangement of rods or stripes with spaces between them for
light to pass. Its ability to separate wavelengths is expressed in line
pairs per millimeter, for example. A moire grating of parallel dark and
light stripes is an example. Also used for structured light projection. |
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Gray level |
A quantized measurement
of image irradiance (brightness), or other pixel property typically in
the range between pure white and black. |
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Grayscale Image |
An image consisting of an
array of pixels which can have more than two values. Typically, up to
256 levels (8 bits) are used for each pixel. |
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GUI |
An acronym for Graphical
User Interface. Pronounced "gooie." A Windows based user
interface screen or series of screens allowing the user to
point-and-click to select icons rather than typing commands. |
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Halftone |
A type of single bit
image composed of a pattern of black dots that fool the eye into seeing
shades of gray. Examples of halftone images are the pictures you see in
a newspaper. These images usually look very coarse. |
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Halogen lamp |
An incandescent lamp with
a gas similar to iodine inside which is constantly evaporated then
redeposited on the filament. |
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Hardware |
Electronic integrated
circuits, boards and systems used by the system. |
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HDTV |
High Definition TV
proposed broadcast standard to double the current 525 lines per picture
to 1,050 lines, and increasing the screen aspect ratio from 12:9 to
16:9. The typical TV of 336,00 pixels would increase to about 2 million. |
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Height/Range |
Object profile is usually
measured by changes in range or distances from the sensor. 3D techniques
are usually used. |
|
High Pass Filter |
Passes detailed high
frequency image information, while attenuating low frequency, slow
changing data. |
|
High Speed Imaging |
Image capture near, at or
above 1800 parts per minute. |
|
Histogram |
A graphical
representation of the frequency of occurrence of each intensity or range
of intensities (gray levels) of pixels in an image. The height
represents the number of observations occurring in each interval. A
histogram skewed heavily to the left indicates a dark image, while a
histogram skewed to the right indicates a light image. |
|
Histogram Analysis |
Determination of the
presence or absence of a feature or flaw based on the histogram values
in a certain gray scale region. |
|
Histogram Equalization |
Modification of the
histogram to evenly distribute a narrow range of image gray scale values
across the entire available range. |
|
Holography |
Optically recording of
the interference pattern from two coherent waves which forms a 3
dimensional record or hologram. |
|
Hough Transform |
A global parallel method
for locating both curved and straight lines. All points on the curve map
into a single location in the transform space. |
|
HSI |
An acronym for the Hue,
Saturation and Intensity color representation. A mathematical conversion
from RGB. Often used for machine vision analysis. |
|
HSI Conversion |
A mathematical conversion
from the color RGB space to hue, saturation and intensity values. |
|
Hue |
One of the three
properties of HSI color perception. A color attribute used to express
the amount of red, green, blue or yellow a certain color possesses.
White, gray and black do not exhibit any hue. |
|
Hueckel Operator |
An edge finding operator
which fits an intensity surface to the neighborhood of each pixel and
selects surface gradients above a specified threshold. |
|
Hybrid Electro |
Optic Sensor A silicon
sensor fabricated in a configuration to match spatial information
generated by the imaging system, such as a PSD (position sensitive
detector), concentric rings, pie shapes and others. |